Solar module integration system

ABSTRACT

Embodiments of the present inventions are directed to systems, devices for use with systems, and method of mounting and retaining solar panels. A solar module mounting system may include a ballast, a sole mechanically coupled to a bottom surface of the ballast, a link member embedded in the ballast, an attachment module mechanically coupled to the link member, and a deflector mechanically coupled to the link member. A method of mounting a solar panel module may include forming a link member and a ballast, attaching the ballast to the link member, bonding a sole to a lower surface of the ballast and/or the link member, attaching a solar panel module to the link member with an attachment module member, electrically grounding the mounting system, routing a wiring from the solar panel module through a wire chase, and attaching a deflector module to the link member.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims priority to and is a continuation of U.S.patent application Ser. No. 12/056,791 entitled “Solar ModuleIntegration System,” and filed Mar. 27, 2008, which is herebyincorporated by reference in its entirety for all purposes.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

Embodiments of the present inventions are directed to systems, devicesfor use with systems, and method of mounting and retaining solar panels.

2. Discussion of Related Art

Solar (photovoltaic) panels are often manufactured in the form of flatrigid structures. To facilitate the performance of the function ofgenerating electricity, solar panels may be mounted in an area exposedto the sun or other source of light. Often, it is desirable to mountsolar panels outdoors at an angle from the horizontal so that they willmore directly face the sun during peak daylight hours as opposed topanels mounted flat on the ground. In some applications, it may bedesirable to mount a number of solar panels together in an array inorder to combine the power generation capabilities of the individualpanels. In many instances, it may be desirable that mounting systems forsolar panel arrays retain the solar panels in place. This may beaccomplished by attaching the solar panels to one another in a mountingsystem and/or by mounting the panels to the mounting system.

For example, U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2007/0133474 toMascolo et al. describes a supported solar panel assembly including asolar panel module comprising a solar panel and solar panel modulesupports including module supports having support surfaces supportingthe module, a module registration member engaging the solar panel moduleto position the solar panel module on the module support, and a mountingelement. U.S. Pat. No. 6,534,703 to Dinwoodie describes a solar panelassembly for use on a support surface comprising a base, a solar panelmodule, a multi-position module support assembly, and a deflector.

SUMMARY OF INVENTIONS

According to one aspect of the current inventions there is provided asolar module mounting system. The solar module mounting system comprisesa ballast, a sole mechanically coupled to a bottom surface of theballast, a link member embedded in the ballast, an attachment modulemechanically coupled to the link member, and a deflector mechanicallycoupled to the link member.

According to another aspect of the current inventions there is provideda solar module mounting system component. The solar module mountingsystem component comprises a ballast and a link member embedded in theballast. The link member is adapted for coupling to a solar panelmodule.

According to another aspect of the current inventions there is provideda link member for a solar module mounting system. The link membercomprises a first portion including a first facility for attaching to asolar panel module, a second portion including a second facility forattaching to a second portion of a solar panel module, and a thirdportion adapted to receive and substantially carry the weight of a firstballast.

According to another aspect of the current inventions there is provideda link member for a solar module mounting system. The link membercomprises a first surface including a first facility for attaching to afirst portion of a solar panel module, a second surface coupled to thefirst surface including a second facility for attaching to a secondportion of a solar panel module, and a grounding facility.

According to another aspect of the current inventions there is providedan attachment module for a solar module mounting system. The attachmentmodule comprises a first section with a first surface a second sectionwith a second surface. A second section is coupled to the first section.The first surface is spaced from the second surface. The second sectiondefines a threaded hole. The attachment module further comprises afastener for retaining a portion of a solar panel module between thefirst surface and the second surface.

According to another aspect of the current inventions there is provideda solar module mounting system. The solar module mounting systemcomprises a ballast, a link member comprising a ballast platform ontowhich the ballast is fixedly mounted, an attachment module mechanicallycoupled to the link member, and a deflector mechanically coupled to thelink member.

According to another aspect of the current inventions there is provideda solar module array. The solar module array comprises a plurality ofsolar module mounting elements. The solar module mounting elementscomprises a ballast, a link member mechanically coupled to the ballast,an attachment module mechanically coupled to the link member, and adeflector mechanically coupled to the link member. A solar panel moduleis mechanically coupled to the plurality of solar module mountingelements.

According to a further aspect of the current inventions there isprovided a method of forming a shoe of a solar module mounting system.The method comprises forming a link member from a metal sheet bycutting, bending, and galvanizing the metal sheet, inserting the linkmember into a mold, pouring concrete into the mold and about the linkmember, thereby forming a ballast with an embedded link member; andmechanically fixing a sole to a bottom surface of the ballast.

According to a further aspect of the current inventions there isprovided a method of mounting a solar panel module. The method comprisesforming a link member, forming a ballast, attaching the ballast to thelink member, bonding a sole to a lower surface of at least one of theballast and the link member, attaching a solar panel module to the linkmember with an attachment module member. routing a wiring from the solarpanel module through the at least one wire chase, and attaching adeflector module to the link member.

According to a further aspect of the current inventions there isprovided a method of installing a solar panel array. The methodcomprises acts of providing a solar panel, coupling an attachment moduleto the solar panel, after coupling the attachment module to the solarpanel, coupling the attachment module to a support member.

According to a further aspect of the current inventions there isprovided a method of installing a solar panel array. The methodcomprises acts of providing a support mechanism, providing a solarpanel, selecting a height on the solar panel for attaching the panel,and attaching the panel at the selected height.

According to a further aspect of the current inventions there isprovided a support mechanism for a solar panel to be installed on aroof. The support mechanism comprises a ballast, a link member incontact with the ballast so that the link member and ballast aremaintained in a secure relationship, and a sole to protect the roof fromdamage from the linking member and ballast

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, are not intended to be drawn to scale. In thedrawings, each identical or nearly identical component that isillustrated in various figures is represented by a like numeral. Forpurposes of clarity, not every component may be labeled in everydrawing. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is an array of solar panel modules according to an aspect of thepresent inventions;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of a section of a solar module mountingsystem according to an aspect of the present inventions;

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of a shoe element of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an attachment module of a solar module mounting systemaccording to an aspect of the present inventions;

FIG. 5 is a deflector element of a solar module mounting systemaccording to an aspect of the present inventions;

FIG. 6 is a view from the rear underside of a solar panel moduleillustrating attachment modules mounted on the solar panel moduleaccording to an aspect of the present inventions;

FIG. 7 is a view from underneath a solar panel module illustratingattachment modules mounted on the solar panel module according to anaspect of the present inventions;

FIG. 8 is an isometric view of a solar panel module mounted to shoeelements according to an aspect of the present inventions;

FIG. 9 is an array of solar panel modules according to another aspect ofthe present inventions;

FIG. 10 is isometric view of a shoe element of a solar module mountingsystem according to another aspect of the present inventions;

FIG. 11 illustrates a disassembled link member of a solar modulemounting system according to another aspect of the present inventions;

FIG. 12 illustrates connection of a deflector to a link member of asolar module mounting system according to another aspect of the presentinventions; and

FIG. 13 is a flowchart of a method of forming a solar module integrationsystem according to an aspect of the present inventions.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

This inventions described herein are not limited to the details ofconstruction and the arrangement of components set forth in thefollowing description or illustrated in the drawings. The inventions arecapable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carriedout in various ways. Also, the phraseology and terminology used hereinis for the purpose of description and should not be regarded aslimiting. The use of “including,” “comprising,” or “having,”“containing,” “involving,” and variations thereof herein, is meant toencompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well asadditional items. The description of one aspect of the inventionsdisclosed herein is not intended to be limiting with respect to otheraspects of the present inventions.

FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a section of an array of solar panelmodules 100 according to an aspect of the present inventions that may bedeployed on, for example, a large flat roof as may be found on largecommercial buildings; aspects of the present invention may be applied toother roof structures and other mounting surfaces.

The array 100 in this example includes a plurality of solar panelmodules 110. The solar panel modules 110 are illustrated in FIG. 1 asbeing mounted at an angle from the horizontal, but in some embodiments,the solar panel modules may be mounted at angles other than thatillustrated in FIG. 1 or even horizontally. The solar panel modules 110may in some embodiments be mounted at different angles throughout thearray 100 and uniformly in others such as the one shown in FIG. 1. Thearray 100 also includes a plurality of deflector elements 120. Thesedeflector elements 120 are located in FIG. 1 facing what will bedescribed herein as the Top side of array 100. What is described as theTop side may correspond to geographical North position of the array. Asshown here, the Top side may be positioned approximately to the North sothat the tilted faces of the panel modules are directed generally towardthe South, e.g., tilted to more squarely face the direction of the sunfor an installation north of the equator. In some embodiments, eachsolar panel module 110 may have a corresponding deflector element 120,but in some embodiments, at least one of the solar panel modules 110 inan array 100 may not have an accompanying deflector element 120. Forexample, in one embodiment, deflectors are positioned only on panelmodules at the Top edge of the array. In some embodiments, additionaldeflector elements (not shown) may be mounted facing the lateral sides(i.e., the sides perpendicular to the Top side) at the edges of thearray, roughly perpendicular to the deflector elements 120 illustratedin FIG. 1. In another embodiment, deflectors are positioned only on theTop and side edges of the array.

The deflector elements 120 and solar panel modules 110 in this exampleare mounted on shoes 130. A shoe is a support structure that may be usedto support at least a portion of a solar panel; in this example, theshow is used to support a corner of a solar panel, and in this example,can be used to support up to four corners of the panel. An example ofshoes is described more fully below with respect to FIG. 3.

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of one section of the array 100 in theexample of FIG. 1. FIG. 2 illustrates one embodiment of attachmentmodule 140 according to one aspect of the present inventions, mountedproximate the corners of solar panel module 110. In this example theattachment modules 140 may be made of a metal such as aluminum. In someembodiments, the attachment modules 140 may be made of a conductivematerial to assist in grounding of the panel modules or may include agrounding path.

In this example, attachment module 140 includes an attachment mechanismwhich is this example is a threaded hole for a bolt which may be used toattach the attachment modules 140 to a solar panel module 110. Theattachment module 140 may also include second, non-threaded holes forbolts 145 that may used to attach (or facilitate attaching) anattachment module 140 to a shoe 130. Other attachment mechanisms may beemployed with attachment modules 140, including, for example, screws,adhesives, clips, or solder. Since many commercially available solarpanels include a similar edge, this particular attachment module iscompatible for use with solar panels provided by multiple suppliers.This particular attachment module is also compatible for use with solarpanel mounting systems provided by multiple suppliers. Other designs forcompatibility with multiple suppliers may be provided based on thedisclosure provided herein and different attachment modules may bedesigned for use with different solar panels but made compatible for usewith a common shoe configuration.

In this example, the shoe 130 includes a facility to permit attachmentof panels to the shoe. In this example, rear mounting holes 150 areprovided on the upper rear portion of shoe 130 and provide locations forthe attachment of attachment modules 140. In some embodiments, anattachment module 140 mounted to shoe 130 through rear mounting holes150 may be attached to a solar panel module 110 proximate a Top edge 210of the solar panel module 110 that is vertically higher than a Bottomedge 220 of the solar panel module when the solar panel module 110 ismounted on some embodiments of certain aspects of the presentinventions. The Bottom edge 220 of solar panel module 110 may beattached with another attachment module 140 to a forward mounting hole160 on another shoe 130.

In the embodiment of FIG. 2, the mechanism that assists in attachment ofpanel module 110 to shoes 130 includes a link (this example of a linkelement being described more fully below) that allows attachment ofpanel in more than one location. In this example, a plurality of rearmounting holes 150 are provided on shoes 130 (rather than a single hole,for example). This allows for the system according to some embodimentsto accommodate fluctuations in the height of a roof or other surfaceupon which the system may be mounted and/or for mounting panels atdifferent angles. In this example, shoes 130 may include three rearmounting holes 150 spaced 0.75 inches vertically apart from one another,which allows the system to accommodate up to five degree undulations ina roof or other mounting surface upon which it may be mounted. Othermechanisms may be employed in other embodiments to facilitate attachmentof panel to shoe and those embodiments may (or may not) provideflexibility in ability to vary the height of attachment with respect tothe shoe either by allowing multiple attachment points as in thisexample or by allowing slidable adjustment, as would be readily designedby one of skill in the art based on the disclosure provided herein.

As further illustrated in FIG. 2, shoes 130 may also include a mechanismto assist in mounting a deflector 120. In this example, the mountingmechanism includes deflector mounting holes 170 on shoes 130. Deflector120 may be attached to shoes 130 by fasteners passing through holes 180in the edge of deflector 120 and deflector mounting holes 170 of shoes130.

FIG. 3 illustrates in more detail an example of a shoe 130 according toan aspect of the present inventions. In FIG. 3, the shoe 130 isillustrated in an exploded view. In this example, the shoe 130 comprisesthree sub-elements: a link 310, a ballast 320, and a sole 330.

Link 130 provides an attachment mechanism for attachment module 140.Link 130 may comprise three sets of mounting holes.

Rear mounting holes 150 may be used to mount an attachment module 140for attachment to a Top end of a solar panel module 110 to shoe 130. Insome embodiments, there may be three of rear mounting holes 150, and insome embodiments there may be a greater or lesser number of rearmounting holes 150 or some other mechanism to facilitate attachment.

In this example, a facility for attaching a solar panel module to a shoeat the bottom edge of the solar panel module is also provided. In thisembodiment, forward mounting hole 160 may be used to mount an attachmentmodule 140 for attachment to a Bottom end of a solar panel module 110 toshoe 130. In some embodiments, there may be more than one forwardmounting hole 160, or another attachment mechanism may be employed. Thismay provide greater flexibility of mounting options, for example, toallow a user to select an upper or a lower forward mounting hole 160 tocompensate for variations in height of a surface upon which shoe 130 maybe mounted.

In this example, the link also includes a mechanism to facilitateattachment of deflectors. In this embodiment, deflector mounting holes170 may be used to attach a deflector 120 to shoe 130. A plurality ofmounting holes 170 may be provided in shoe 130. This may allow forflexibility in the positioning of deflector 120 on shoe 130.

In some embodiments, an integrated grounding attachment 180 may beprovided in link 310. Integrated grounding attachment 180 may be in theform of a hole to which a grounding wire of a solar panel module 110 maybe attached, or may be an eyelet or other grounding attachment mechanismto assist in providing an electrical connection to ground from panel topanel.

In the embodiment according to FIG. 3, ballast 320 provides shoe 130with mass that may assist in keeping array 100 securely in place on aroof or other surface. Ballast 320 may also contain one or more wirechases 340 that can be used for running electrical wire through the shoe130. Wire chases 340 provide shoe 130 with integrated wire managementand integrated grounding capabilities. These wire chases 340 may bemolded or cut into the ballast 320, or may be formed by casting, forexample, ½″ diameter (or greater) pieces of PVC pipe or other materialinto ballast 320 during the manufacture thereof. In other embodiments, afacility for passing wires may be integrated elsewhere in the shoe, suchas in the sole or on top of the ballast.

In this example, sole 330 may provide friction to keep array 100securely in position on a roof or other mounting surface and/or may beconfigured to help protect the roof or other mounting surface fromdamage from ballast 320 and/or permit water to pass under it. Sole 330may comprise a patterned bottom surface 330 b which may enhance thefriction of sole 330 against a mounting surface. The bottom surface 330b of sole 330 may have a basic waffle cut pattern. Other patterns (or nopattern) may be employed in other embodiments. Sole 330 may also have apatterned upper surface 330 a which may facilitate attachment of sole330 to ballast 320, as will be explained in more detail below. The uppersurface 330 a of sole in the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3 has abasic waffle cut pattern. Other patterns (or no pattern) may be employedin other embodiments. Sole 330 may be joined to ballast 320 at uppersurface 330 a using a suitable adhesive such as epoxy, although otherattachment mechanisms would be readily apparent to one of skill in theart based on the disclosure provided herein.

Ballast 320 is illustrated in FIG. 3 with a slot into which link 310 maybe mounted. In some embodiments, link 310 may be inserted into ballast320 after both elements are formed, and in other embodiments, ballast320 may be cast or molded about link 310.

Ballast 320 may in some embodiments be made from a concrete mix. Ballast320 in some embodiments may be made from any concrete mix that isintended to withstand the elements for an appropriate period of time,such as cement intended for outdoor applications and having an intendedlife span of 30+ years. Ballast 320 may in some embodiments be madeusing a Portland Type III concrete with air entrainment of about 5%.This concrete is a high early strength, normal weight concrete with afully cured strength of 5,000 psi, and is available from PrecastSpecialties Inc. of Abington, Mass. Alternatively, ballast 320 may beformed from materials such as, for example, metal, natural or recycledrubber, or Quazite®, a polymer concrete available from Hubbell LenoirCity, Inc. of Lenoir City, Tenn,, or other materials.

Link 310 can be made from metals such as stainless steel, mild steel,aluminum, UV resistant plastic, fiberglass, concrete, or othermaterials. In some embodiments, link 310 may be made from 0.075 inchthick cold rolled mild steel. The mild steel may be cut, bent into theshape of link 310, and then hot-dip galvanized. Where a conductivematerial is used, the link may be used to assist in passing anelectrical ground connection among panels.

In some embodiments, sole 330 may be made from any material that can beconsidered an “inert pad” by the roofing industry. In some embodiments,sole 330 may be made from recycled, non-vulcanized crumb rubber, such asthat available from Unity Creations Ltd. of Hicksville, N.Y. In otherembodiments sole 330 may be made from natural rubber, EPDM (EthylenePropylene Diene Monomer—a rubber roofing material), or another roofingmaterial that may protect the roof or other surface upon which array 100may be mounted from damage by the material of ballast 320. Sole 330 maybe adhered to ballast 320 using an adhesive, such as, for example,epoxy. In some embodiments, an epoxy known as ChemRex 948 may be used.In other embodiments, sole 330 may comprise a rubber pad cast directlyinto ballast 320. Sole 330 may be cast directly into ballast 320 by forexample, providing sole 330 with rubber teeth and/or with pits orinclusions. Concrete, or other material from which a ballast 320 may beformed, could be poured onto sole 330 on the side with the rubber teethand/or pits or inclusions, and the teeth will mold into the concrete orother material and be bonded to it, and/or the concrete or othermaterial will fill the pits or inclusions and thereby bond to the sole330. Sole 330 may additionally or alternatively be secured to ballast320 by a fastener or fasteners such as, for example, screws or bolts.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of attachment module 140. Attachment module140 may in some embodiments be made from 6061-T6 aluminum which can beanodized if desired. The attachment module 140 can also be made fromother metal or some other material of sufficient strength. Where aconductive material is selected, the attachment module may be used toassist in passing ground among panels.

The attachment module may be formed by machine cutting, but can also beextruded, laser cut, or water jet cut or formed using another suitablemanufacturing method.

In one embodiment, attachment module 140 is configured to permit it tobe attached to a plurality of different panel modules and/or panelmodule mounting systems available in the market.

Attachment module 140 may in some embodiments include a threaded hole142 and a non-threaded hole 144. In this example, attachment module 140may be attached to a shoe 130 with an appropriate attachment mechanism.In this example a bolt is used to attach attachment module 140 to a shoe130. In other embodiments, a metal pin or a clip may be used, or otherattachment devices or mechanisms as would be apparent to one of skill inthe art based on the disclosure provided herein.

FIG. 5 is an isometric view of deflector 120. Deflector 120 can be madeof metal, fiberglass, UV resistant plastic, concrete, or other suitablematerials. In one embodiments, deflector 120 may be manufactured bycutting, bending, and galvanizing mild steel.

In this example, the deflector 120 includes a mechanism to facilitateattachment to a shoe 130. In this embodiment that mechanism includesthree holes 180 along each side of deflector 120 for attachment to ashoe 130. In other embodiments, more holes may be provided in deflector120 to provide for more secure attachment to shoe 130 and/or greaterflexibility in positioning of deflector 120 on shoe 130. In otherembodiments, fewer mounting holes may be provided in deflector 120.

The mounting holes 180 of deflector 120 (or any other mounting holesthat may be a part of the mechanism for attachment) may be in the formof round holes, or in some embodiments, slots permitting slidingadjustments. In some embodiments, deflector 120 may include mountingtabs (not shown) extending from the sides of deflector 120 in whichmounting holes 180 may be located. Mounting tabs in which the mountingholes are located may be offset from one another on either side ofdeflector 120 so that two deflectors can be mounted side by sideutilizing a plurality of collinear holes 170 on a single link 310 of ashoe 130 so that the tabs of one deflector 120 do not interfere with thetabs of the other deflector 120.

FIGS. 6-8 illustrate one example of how attachment modules 140 may beutilized to attach solar panel modules 110 to shoe 130. FIG. 6illustrates a solar panel module with three attachment modules 140attached and one attachment module 140 u unattached. As illustrated inFIGS. 6-8 an attachment module 140 may be attached to a solar panelmodule 110 by a threaded bolt 145 passing through a threaded hole inattachment module 140 to secure attachment module 140 to an inner edgeof solar panel module 110. This provides for positioning and alignmentof solar panel module 110 relative to shoe 130. Attachment modules 140may be attached through non-threaded holes to shoe 130 by bolts passingthrough one of rear mounting holes 150 and forward mounting hole 160 fora rear and a forward attachment module 140 respectively. In this manner,solar panel modules 110 may be secured in place relative to shoe 130 andrelative to one another in a fashion compatible with a number ofcommercially available solar panels. Other configurations may bedesigned to permit compatibility with multiple panel types whetherattaching at this portion of the solar panel or designed for integrationwith future solar panels, based on the disclosure provided herein.

FIG. 9 illustrates an array 100 of solar panel modules 110 with anotherembodiment of a shoe, e.g. shoe 430. Shoe 430 is illustrated in greaterdetail in FIG. 10. As illustrated in FIG. 10, shoe 430 may comprisemultiple ballast elements 420. Illustrated in FIG. 10 is a shoe 430 withtwo similar sized ballast elements 420, one on each side of link 410. Inthis example, the link 410 is comprised of two pieces (a left and rightside piece) as described below. The ballast elements may rest on linkplatform 415 illustrated in FIG. 11. In some embodiments, ballastelements 420 may be held in place on link platform 415 by forwardretaining tab 415 a, rear retaining tab 415 b, and side retaining tab415 c. In some embodiments one or more of these tabs may be connected toone or more other of these tabs. In some embodiments, more or fewerretaining tabs may be present. In another embodiment, ballast elements420 may additionally or alternatively be secured to link platform 415 byan adhesive, or by a fastener or fasteners such as, for example, screwsor bolts.

Ballast elements 420 may in some embodiments comprise similar materialsas ballast element 320 described above. In some embodiments, ballastelements 420 may comprise standard size concrete blocks, such as, forexample, blocks with dimensions of 8 inches wide×8 inches tall×16 incheslong, which may be available at numerous home improvement and/orbuilding supply stores. Where the links are designed to permit use withstandard sized, commercially available blocks, the need to ship heavyballast elements along with other elements of the system may be reduced(although one could ship the ballast elements or design ballast elementspecifically for use with links 410). A purchaser/installer of thesystem could purchase the ballast blocks locally.

Although two similarly size ballast elements 420 are illustrated in FIG.10, it is to be understood that alternate embodiments may include leftand right and/or front and back ballast elements having differentconfigurations, multiple ballast elements on each side, or a singleballast element. If more than two ballast elements are utilized, theseballast elements may comprise, for example, standard sized buildingmaterials, including, for example, standard sized bricks with dimensionsof 3⅝ inches wide×2¼ inches high×8 inches long. If more than two ballastelements are used, they may be mounted on link platform 415 in a stackedor a side-by-side configuration, or both.

Link 410 may be a single integral unit, or multiple units. Asillustrated in FIG. 11, for example, link 410 may comprise two sides 410a and 410 b. In this example, the sides include a mechanism forattaching the sides to each other. In this embodiment, the sides may bejoined together by, for example, connectors 422 and tab 410 t.Connectors 422 on link side 410 a may fit though holes 470 in link side410 b. Tab 410 t may fit about a rear portion of link side 410 a.Connectors 422 may pass through holes 470 in link side 410 a or may bebonded to link side 410 a by means of, for example, welding orsoldering. Connectors 422 may be, for example, bolts, pem nuts, or otherconnectors known in the art. In this example, once connectors 422 arepassed through holes 470 in link side 410 b, a securing element, suchas, for example, a nut or a pin may be coupled to connectors 422 tosecure link side 410 a to link side 410 b.

FIG. 12 illustrates how a deflector 102 may be attached to shoe 430. Inthis example, link sides 410 a and 410 b are joined, and connectors 422protrude from holes 470. A defector 120 is then placed on link 410 suchthat connectors 422 extend through holes in the deflector. A securingelement, in this example nut 424, is then used to secure the deflectorto link 410 by way of connectors 422.

In another embodiment, tabs on a first side 410 b of link 410 may bepositioned into and slid into place into holes or slots in link side 410a in order to join sides 410 a and 410 b. In other embodiments, tabsand/or holes and/or slots may be provided on either or both of sides 410a and 410 b. Alternatively, sides 410 a and 410 b could be joined bywelding, by an adhesive, by fasteners such as screws or bolts, or byother fastening methods known in the art. This may be done in advance orat the time of installation.

Link sides 410 a and 410 b may each comprise a mechanism or mechanismsto facilitate in mounting of deflectors. In some embodiments, themechanism includes a number of deflector mounting holes 470. Link 410may comprise 3 deflector mounting holes on one or both of sides 410 aand 410 b, or in other embodiments may comprise fewer or greater numbersof deflector mounting holes 470. Deflector mounting holes 470 on side410 a may be aligned or offset from deflector mounting holes 470 on side410 b. If the deflector mounting holes 470 on link sides 410 a and 410 bare aligned with each other, deflectors 120 may be mounted to link 410which have mounting tabs and/or holes which are aligned on either sideof the deflector 120. A side of one deflector 120 may be attached tolink side 410 a while a side of another deflector 120 may be attached tolink side 410 b.

Link 410 may comprise a pad or sole (not shown) on its underside. Thispad or sole may be made from similar materials as described above withreference to sole 330.

Referring to FIG. 13, there is illustrated a flowchart 500 of a methodof forming a solar module integration system according to an aspect ofthe present inventions. In act 510 a link 310, 410 is formed. Link 310,410 may be made from metals such as stainless steel, mild steel, oraluminum, UV resistant plastic, fiberglass, concrete, or othermaterials. In some embodiments, link 310, 410 may be made from 0.075inch thick cold rolled mild steel. The mild steel may be cut, bent intothe shape of link 310, 410, and hot-dip galvanized. In otherembodiments, link 310, 410 may be extruded. In embodiments of link 310similar to that illustrated in FIG. 4, link 310 may be formed as asingle piece. In embodiments of link 410, similar to that illustrated inFIG. 11, the link 410 may be fabricated as two separate pieces 410 a and410 b that are later joined. Rear mounting hole or holes 150, forwardmounting hole or holes 160, deflector mounting hole or holes 170, andgrounding attachment hole 180 may formed in link 310, 410 by forexample, drilling or punching.

In act 520 the link 310, 410 is joined to a ballast 320, 420. Ballast320, 420 may be formed from, for example, poured, dry cast, wet cast, orhydraulically pressed concrete, recycled rubber, polymer concrete, orother materials. Ballast 320, 420 may be bought off the shelf from ahardware or building supply store. In embodiments utilizing a link 310similar to that illustrated in FIG. 4, the link 310 may be placed into amold in which ballast 320 may be formed, thereby casting link 310directly into ballast 320. Alternatively, ballast 320 may be formed witha slit cut for link 310 to be mounted into and link 310 may be mountedin this slit and secured using, for example, an adhesive or a fasteneror fasteners such as screws or bolts. In embodiments utilizing a link410 similar to that illustrated in FIG. 11, ballast or ballasts 420 maybe secured to link platform 415 by forward retaining tab 415 a, rearretaining tab 415 b, and side retaining tab 415 c. In other embodiments,ballast elements 420 may additionally or alternatively be secured tolink platform 415 by an adhesive, or by a fastener or fasteners such as,for example, screws or bolts. Ballast 320, 420 may include one or morewire chases 340. These wire chases 340 may be molded into the ballast320, 420, cut into the ballast after it is formed, or may be formed bycasting a ½″ diameter (or greater) piece or pieces of PVC pipe or othermaterial into the ballast 320, 420 during the manufacture thereof.

In act 530, a sole 330 is attached to ballast 310. This act may beperformed in embodiments utilizing a link similar to link 310 and aballast 320 that has an exposed lower surface that may be at leastpartially covered by sole 330. In some embodiments, act 530 may beperformed concurrently with act 520 wherein a sole 330 with extendingfingers or other elements and/or intruding holes or recesses may bebound to ballast 310 by casting ballast 320 about the extending fingersor other elements and/or into the intruding holes or recesses. In otherembodiments, sole 330 may be adhered to ballast 320 using an adhesivesuch as, for example, an epoxy, or by mechanical fasteners such as, forexample, screws or bolts. The sole 330 may be formed from any materialthat can be considered an “inert pad” by the roofing industry. In someembodiments sole 330 may be made from recycled, non-vulcanized crumbrubber available from Unity Creations Ltd. of Hicksville, N.Y. In otherembodiments sole 330 may be made from natural rubber or EPDM. In furtherembodiments, sole 330 may be formed of rubber or other material sprayedor deposited in liquid form onto ballast 310.

In embodiments where a link similar to link 410 is utilized and a soleis not desired to be attached to ballast 420 on an exposed on a lowersurface, act 530 may be replaced by an act in which a sole 330 is boundto at least part of a lower surface of link 410. The sole 330 utilizedin these embodiments may be formed of similar materials as the sole inembodiments where the sole is bound to a ballast 310. In embodimentswhere a link similar to link 410 is utilized, sole 330 may be bound to alower surface of link 410 using an adhesive, such as for example, epoxy,using fasteners such as, for example, screws or bolts, or may be sprayedor melted onto a lower surface of link 410. Lower surface of link 410may comprise holes, extrusions, or roughened areas (not shown) tofacilitate the adherence of sole 330 thereto.

In act 540, the completed shoes 130, 430 are arranged on a roof or othermounting surface and solar panel modules 110 are attached thereto. Solarpanel modules 110 may be attached to shoes 130, 430 utilizing attachmentmodules 140, as is illustrated in FIGS. 6-8 or may be joined to shoes130, 430 using other fasteners or mechanisms known in the art. Ininstances where a mounting surface is not entirely level, solar panelmodules 110 may be attached to different rear mounting holes 150 and/ordifferent forward mounting holes 160 on different shoes in order tomaintain the solar panel modules 110 in alignment with and/or at asimilar horizontal level as adjacent solar panel modules 110. In someembodiments, additional stabilizing members, such as, for example, metalrails (not shown) may interconnect shoes 130. This may impart anincreased rigidity to the solar panel module array. In some embodiments,shoes 130 may be mechanically attached to the roof or other mountingsurface upon which they are mounted.

In act 550, wiring supplying power from solar panel modules 110 may berouted through wire chases 340 in ballasts 320, 420 and grounding wiresmay be attached to grounding terminal or hole 180. In some embodiments,shoe 130, 430 may be provided to an installation site with power andground wires previously installed in wire chases 340.

In act 560, deflectors 120 may be attached to shoes 130, 430. Deflectors120 may be adjustably mounted to shoes 130, 140 by the selection ofappropriate mounting holes 170 on shoes 130, 430, or in some embodimentsby aligning slot shaped mounting holes in deflector 120 to mountingholes 170. Deflectors 120 may in some embodiments be mounted to shoes130, 430 such that upper edges of the deflectors are aligned with upperedges 210 of solar panel modules 110.

It is to be appreciated that acts 510-560 of flowchart 500 may in someembodiments be performed in alternate orders. It is also to beappreciated that not all acts need be performed in all embodiments, andthat in some embodiments additional or alternate acts may be performed.

Having thus described several aspects of at least one embodiment of thisinvention, it is to be appreciated various alterations, modifications,and improvements will readily occur to those skilled in the art. Suchalterations, modifications, and improvements are intended to be part ofthis disclosure, and are intended to be within the spirit and scope ofthe invention. Accordingly, the foregoing description and drawings areby way of example only.

What is claimed is:
 1. (canceled)
 2. A system for mounting an array ofsolar panel modules on a surface, the system comprising: a plurality oflink members configured to support the array; a plurality of attachmentmodules, each adapted to attach a corner portion of a respective solarpanel module to a respective one of the link members; wherein each linkmember of the plurality of link members comprises: a fin-shaped linkportion extending in a direction away from the surface and comprising: afirst attachment facility having a plurality of first attachment pointslocated at different heights on the fin-shaped link portion above thesurface and adapted for attaching a first respective one of the solarpanel modules to one of the first attachment points at a first heightabove the surface; and a second attachment facility having at least onesecond attachment point located above the surface and adapted forattaching a second respective one of the solar panel modules to the atleast one second attachment point at a second height above the surfacedifferent from the first height.
 3. The system of claim 2, furthercomprising a plurality of wind deflectors, each wind deflector extendingbetween a respective pair of link members.
 4. The system of claim 2,wherein each link member of the plurality of link members includes aplatform portion positioned substantially parallel to the mountingsurface.
 5. The system of claim 4, wherein the platform portion of eachlink member is configured to receive a ballast for stabilizing therespective link member on the supporting surface.
 6. The system of claim4, wherein each link member of the plurality of link members includes asole coupled to a bottom surface of the platform portion.
 7. The systemof claim 2, wherein each link member of the plurality of link membersincludes a fin-shaped portion extending away from the mounting surface.8. The system of claim 2, wherein each link member of the plurality oflink members includes a grounding attachment.
 9. The system of claim 2,wherein each attachment module of the plurality of attachment modulesincludes a first section with a first surface and a second section witha second surface, the second section coupled to the first section, thefirst surface spaced away from the second surface.
 10. The system ofclaim 9, wherein each attachment module of the plurality of attachmentmodules includes a first fastener for securing a solar panel modulebetween the first surface and the second surface.
 11. The system ofclaim 9, wherein each attachment module of the plurality of attachmentmodules includes a second fastener for attaching the attachment moduleto one of the first and second attachment facilities.
 12. The system ofclaim 9, wherein each attachment module of the plurality of attachmentmodules includes a threaded hole in one of the first surface and thesecond surface, the threaded hole configured to receive a fastener. 13.The system of claim 2, wherein, for at least one of the link members ofthe plurality of link members: the first attachment facility is attachedby a respective one of the attachment modules to a left edge of thefirst respective one of the solar panel modules at a corner portion moreadjacent to the top edge than the bottom edge of the first respectiveone of the solar panel modules; the second attachment facility attachedby a respective one of the attachment modules to the left edge of thesecond respective one of the solar panel modules at a corner portionmore adjacent to the bottom edge than the top edge of the secondrespective one of the solar panel modules; the first attachment facilityis attached by a respective one of the attachment modules to the rightedge of a third respective one of the solar panel modules at a cornerportion more adjacent to the top edge than the bottom edge of the thirdrespective one of solar panel modules; and the second attachmentfacility is attached by a respective one of the attachment modules tothe right edge of a fourth respective one of the solar panel modules ata corner portion more adjacent to the bottom edge than the top edge ofthe fourth respective one of the solar panel modules.
 14. A method ofinstalling a solar panel module, the method comprising: providing aplurality of link members and a plurality of attachment modulesconfigured to support a solar panel module, each link member including afin-shaped portion extending in a direction away from the surface, afirst attachment facility comprising a plurality of first attachmentpoints located at different heights on the fin-shaped portion above thesurface, and a second attachment having at least one second attachmentpoint located above the surface; attaching a first corner of the solarpanel module to a first attachment point located at a first height onthe fin-shaped portion of a first link member of the plurality of linkmembers via a first attachment module of the plurality of attachmentmodules; attaching a second corner of the solar panel module to thefirst attachment point located at the first height on the fin-shapedportion of a second link member of the plurality of link members via asecond attachment module of the plurality of attachment modules;attaching a third corner of the solar panel module to a secondattachment point located at a second height on the fin-shaped portion ofa third link member of the plurality of link members via a thirdattachment module of the plurality of attachment modules; attaching afourth corner of the solar panel module to the second attachment pointlocated at the second height on the fin-shaped portion of a fourth linkmember of the plurality of link members via a fourth attachment moduleof the plurality of attachment modules.
 15. The method of claim 14,further comprising attaching at least one wind deflector between arespective pair of link members of the plurality of link members. 16.The method of claim 14, wherein each link member further comprises aplatform portion positioned substantially parallel to the mountingsurface.
 17. The method of claim 16, further comprising attaching aballast to the platform portion of at least one link member of theplurality of link members.
 18. The method of claim 16, furthercomprising attaching a sole to a bottom surface of the platform portionof at least one link member of the plurality of link members.
 19. Themethod of claim 14, further comprising electrically coupling at leastone of the link members of the plurality of link members to ground. 20.The method of claim 14, wherein each attachment module of the pluralityof attachment modules includes a first section with a first surface anda second section with a second surface, the second section coupled tothe first section, the first surface spaced away from the secondsurface.
 21. The method of claim 20, wherein each attachment module ofthe plurality of attachment modules includes a first fastener, themethod further comprising: securing the solar panel module between thefirst surface and the second surface of each respective attachmentmodule using the respective fastener.